That fig tree had me puzzled for months because it seemed to be thriving and growing but I never saw any fruit until this past Spring. Tiny little baby figs that just sat there on the branches. Small. Green. Perpetual youths.

Months later (it IS FALL) and somewhat aggravated, I goggled unripened figs and found that lack of rain and nutrition can be an issue and BOOM… Maturation was on with some Milorganite and regular irrigation. You are looking at two grown up FIGS. Rick, Domino and Grace all implied they looked like something else…

Fun fact: Did you know figs don’t develop without the help of wasps?

In order to pollinate the fruits, the trees have a special relationship with a type of wasp which burrows inside figs to lay its eggs (dragging pollen). After hatching, the baby wasps mate and the males, who are born sharp-toothed but wingless, chew holes through the fig’s skin for the winged females’ escape. So when we eat figs, we are eating dead male wasps. FUN! I try not to think about this when eating figs.